Biden stay in luxury cabin prompts Park Service review

By Mary Grace Lucas, CNN

Updated 6:30 PM ET, Wed October 29, 2014

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A luxury log cabin in the mountains of Wyoming has become the subject of a federal probe after it was revealed Vice President Joe Biden and other top officials had stayed there while not on official business.

The Park Service told CNN on Wednesday it was conducting an investigation into the billing policies surrounding the Brinkerhoff Lodge in Grand Teton National Park, which is meant for officials to use while on government business.

Biden and his extended family stayed there in August during a vacation; the Vice President's office told CNN on Wednesday the costs for renting the property had been hammered out beforehand and Biden always planned on paying. While a bill for the stay was delayed in getting to his office, Biden eventually paid $1,200 to use the house.

That rate was determined using a federal per diem rate for the area, plus an additional $10 per night for each of Biden's guests.

TIME Magazine, which first reported the story involving Biden and the Brinkenhoff Cabin, reported that other officials in President Barack Obama's administration had also made use of the home during visits to the area, which all incorporated official visits.

"The Brinkerhoff cabin at Grand Teton National Park is a historic property that is available for day and night uses that benefit the park, such as trainings and conferences, or housing federal employees -- many of whom conduct official business at the park during some portion of their stay," a National Park Service spokesman said.

"In light of inconsistencies in billing practices and ambiguity in the policy at the park, the Interior Department has directed the National Park Service to conduct an immediate review of compliance with the policy and related recordkeeping and to seek reimbursement, where appropriate, for use of the Brinkerhoff," the spokesman added.